Rovers cyclists climb ‘Agony Hill’ to top East Sussex table

Eastbourne Rovers Cycling Club peddled their way to the top of the East Sussex points table with a strong performance in the 15-mile East Sussex Hard Riders.

The circuit, starting in Bodle Street Green and taking in some sharp topography such as ‘Agony Hill’, has been used for bike racing since 1947 and is locally considered to be a test for the toughest riders only.

The event attracted the largest field for many years with 80 riders and it was won by In-Gear Quickvit Trainsharp rider Peter Tadros, setting a new course record of 35:40 in the process.

Eastbourne’s Iain Brogden completed the course in 38:09 for third place. Team mates Matt Woods, Marc Townsend and John Cordner also put in strong performances to take sixth, ninth and tenth places respectively, putting Eastbourne Rovers at the top of the East Sussex points table with 179 points, Lewes Wanderers already falling behind with only 111 points in second place.

Event promoter, Peter Moon said, “This event marks the start of the time trialling season and is a good test of the winter conditioning work that our team have put in.”

Last Sunday Eastbourne Rovers entered a team of riders in the Puncheur Cyclosportive.

Eastbourne’s Matt Woods posted the fastest time for the 65 mile course of 3:24:30. Brogden was fifth with 3:30:40 and team mates Adam Ford and Dave Clark both won gold medals for a sub four-hour ride.

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